Sangita

Dr. R.S. Nandakumar

Dr. R.S. Nandakumar is a renowned performer of traditional Karnāṭaka Music, widely recognized for his innovative concert structures and authentic renditions. His compositions span theatre plays, Bharatanatyam music, documentaries on yoga and culture, and promotional works for broadcasting and cultural institutions.

He has performed on major cultural stages across India, Europe, and the USA.

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Achievements

The music we today recognize as Saṅgīta traces its lineage to 7th-century Bhārata (modern-day India). Over centuries, it evolved across regions and traditions, giving rise to what we now call Karnāṭaka Saṅgīta, an art form rooted in both performance tradition (sampradāya) and textual-academic foundation (śāstra).

Among the foremost scholar-musicians upholding this legacy is Dr. R.S. Nandakumar, born in Bhadravati, Karnataka in 1960. Descended from the venerable Tyāgarāja tradition, he is the son and disciple of Padmaśrī Mahāmahopādhyāya Dr. R. Sathyanārāyana, hailed as a saṅgīta śāstra rasaṛśi, and comes from a lineage of eminent musicians and scholars.

Artistic Style & Contributions

Dr. Nandakumar’s musical style is both rooted and revolutionary:

  • A rich, rangy, and supple voice engineered through dedicated self-training.

  • Reviver of over 1000-year-old Indian song forms like Svarāṅka, Panchabhaṅgi, Umātilaka, Śriraṅga, Kaivāra, Śukasārita and more.

  • A researcher and authority on rare forms like Gadya, Daṇḍaka, Suḷādi, Vrittanāma, Bhramaragīta, Kriti archetypes, Muṇḍige, Guṇḍakriya, performing them with śāstra-based authenticity.

  • Composer and performer of rare Avadhāna Tāla Pallavis in both suḷādi and deśī tālas.

  • Practitioner of ancient forms such as Rāgālapti–Rūpakālapti and Chaturdaṇḍi music.

Through extensive research and deep-rooted practice, he continues to bridge the ancient with the contemporary, redefining how classical music is experienced today.

Global Recognition & Performances

Dr. Nandakumar has brought global attention to Indian music through:

in concert at Berlin

Concerts organized by the Indian Embassy, Berlin.

Lecture-demonstrations at the Freie University of Berlin and the University of Turin, Italy.

Historic performance at La Venice Theatre, Italy—one of the world’s premier concert halls.

Invited performances in Verona by VAIS, Italy.

National Presence & Research

Music festivals, academic conferences, and national art forums.

Prestigious research roles, such as Senior Research Fellow, Ministry of Culture, for his work on Ancient Prabandhas.

His D.Litt thesis Śrīpādarāya: A Musicological Study (Hampi Kannada University) is regarded as a landmark in tracing the roots of Karnāṭaka Saṅgīta to 15th–16th century traditions.

Broadcasts, Media, and Projects

ℑ Lead composer and conductor of the Indra Dhanuś Youth Orchestra at the World Kannada Conference.

ℑ Numerous audio releases and AIR/Doordarshan features including award-winning Vachana Pada Vaidya.

ℑ Composer of Tirupati Rock Inscriptions in contemporary format.

ℑ Set Buddha Tatva Dohas to music for the Karmapa 900 Festival, inaugurated by the 17th Karmapa.

ℑ Reconstructed and performed Charyāgītis of the 13th century with a modern lens.

RS Nandakumar with Tambura

Academic Engagements & Publications

  • Member of Board of Studies for Department of Dance & Music at Kannada University Hampi

  • Member of Board of Examiners for Department of Dance & Music at Kannada University Hampi

  • Director at Bharatiya Matanga Samajik Samskruthik Academy(R), an post graduate institution for Performing Arts recognized by Kannada University Hampi

  • Academic Council Member, Mahatma Gandhi University, Madhya Pradesh (Indology and Musicology)

  • Presented over 15 international webinars during 2020 alone.

  • Authored handbook Music Called Saṅgīta for Freie University, Berlin.

  • Delivered lectures for VAIS (Italy) on Indian Musicology and Philosophy.

  • Editorial Board Member, Kalākalpa, IGNCA, New Delhi.

  • Featured by BBC in their documentary 100 Years of Indian Railways.

  • External Examiner for Ph.D. adjudication at JNU, Kanchi University, and Jain University.

Through his visionary scholarship, trailblazing performances, and devotion to tradition, Dr. R.S. Nandakumar remains a guiding light in Indian music, ensuring that Saṅgīta continues to thrive across generations.

Address

#12, 9th cross, 4th main, Jayanagar, Mysuru – 570014

Email: trayeelakshmi@gmail.com

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